GW A "Good Neighbor"

George Washington University has been named one of the top 25 BEST NEIGHBOR colleges and universities in a report entitled “Saviors of Our Cities: A Survey of Best College and University Civic Partnerships” assembled by Westfield State College.

Based on comprehensive written surveys and interviews with virtually every college in the country, the report was presented at the 15th annual conference of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities on October 12. GW was ranked 24th and was the only school in the District of Columbia to make the list.

The ranking recognizes the efforts of the University and its community to build a “mutually beneficial relationship and shared vision.” Citing GW’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, FRIENDS, GW Hospital and its positive effect from community relations initiatives, the report praises GW involvement in both commercial and residential activities such as revitalization, cultural renewal, economics, and community service and development.

The study noted that GWU supports "strong city agent management as well as community-based economic and social progress in the District of Columbia." It also emphasized the positive role the GW Hospital plays in the neighborhood, regularly providing care to thousands of DC residents, including prominent politicians such as former Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as surveying city health trends. This in turn allows the local government to be more effective, focusing its attention on treating the health problems that GW has identified, especially those among at-risk populations.

The study says that "GWU’s community relations staff is talented and possesses tremendous energy," a crucial point, since "This energy is necessary to match the fast-paced tempo of urban life in the nation’s Capital.”